Collections Attorney Left Phonemail Today

[I_Suck]

This is from a AMEX business credit card from 2 years ago or more. He calls at 4:30 and says "I need an immediate callback today". Umm, you know people work. The name on the caller id is "Joe Pezzuto". Not sure what I should be doing at this point to protect myself.

[justbroke]

Well if you owe them money, then the only way to protect yourself would be to challenge the amount owed, or file Bankruptcy. I'm not suggesting either... but I don't know what you're asking.

If you have personal assets, and you personally guaranteed this business credit card, then you are exposed to the extent those assets aren't exempt from creditors. Depending on the type of overall debt you're in, Bankruptcy could be an option. However, you must way all of the different "options" financially (like a business decision).

So how much do you owe on that card? How much do you owe in general? What's your general financial condition? What type of assets do you have? What are you looking to do to "protect" yourself?

[I_Suck]

I guess my question whether this really is an attorney or just a collection agency in disguise.

[treehugger1]

Hmm, in the dark recesses of my mind, I think I have heard the name. Is this a california law firm? I'm guessing that the caller is an employee of the colection law firm and not an attorney. If it were me, I would call them back. Verify only your name and address and request they send you something in writing. You can tell them that you expect such written communication to be sent to you via US mail within five days. Don't discuss any of your personal finances over the phone. You have no idea who this guy truly is. If they are legit, they should pop something in the mail to you. You can even tell them after you have received information from them, you will review it for further response. (i.e. return the communications with a DV request.) No matter what, keep your cool!

[I_Suck]

Joe Pezzuto Law Firm is the name. I believe they are in AZ area code was 602.

I called back to a guy who works for Joe Pezzuto who stated that he is not attorney but tries to collect the debt owed before recommending legal action to the attornies.

This has been to several collection agencies. Over the past year, we have been making month payments to a collection agency. I guess they got tired and sent it back to AMEX.

The guy also said that this firm bought the debt so if I were to call AMEX that would have no record of the account anymore. He was ofcourse, a really ass on the phone. I gave him no information other than we don't the funds to pay this off in full.

He said I can make you a deal and knock off 20% and it had to be paid in full since payments are no longer an option. I reiterated that we still don't have that kind of a lump sum to settle it. He left the conversation with you have to call me back by tomorrow to see if you can come up with the 80% in full or I have to recommend to the firm legal action.

So that's where we are.

[I_Suck]

We live in NC by the way. I would like to work something out and avoid the whole lawsuit/judgement/garnishment nightmare, but it would have to be something less than they are offering. Ofcourse, we are in the situation where we are worth more dead than alive so I am not sure what the judgement will get them.

[walkthaplank]

I googled the name and he looks like a winner. Looks like a typical JDB collection law firm.

[BigJohn]

This is from a AMEX business credit card from 2 years ago or more. He calls at 4:30 and says "I need an immediate callback today". Umm, you know people work. The name on the caller id is "Joe Pezzuto". Not sure what I should be doing at this point to protect myself.

By them calling you, I think it was a fishing expedition. By you calling back probably confirmed what they were looking for - you.

If you ignored them, they would have probably gone away.

[I_Suck]

Since they may have my bank account info and we were already considering changing banks, I will be closing our bank account today and opening up at a different bank in just my name.

By the way, this debt is just in my wife's name, not mine.

[I_Suck]

Since this guy from Joe Pezzuto Law Firm told me they owned the debt and AMEX no longer does, I decided to call AMEX. They still had the account number info and gave me a number to call. I called that number and the name mentioned there was Resurgent Capital Services. So I wonder what the relation is, if any, to Resurgent Capital Services and Joe Pezzuto Law Firm.

By the way, it's been a week since the initial call and I still haven't received a single thing in the mail from this Joe Pezzuto firm.

[catleg]

This is just a collection agency. I DV'd them and they went away.

[I_Suck]

This is just a collection agency. I DV'd them and they went away.

You have had experience with which collection agency?

[catleg]

You have had experience with which collection agency?

The "Law Office of Joe Pezzuto".

Or should I say Joseph James Pezzuto II.

31 years old, quite the aggressive little M-F'er.

[I_Suck]

I received a letter in the snail mail from Joe Pezzuto this weekend.

The letter starts with...

"This office has been retained to collect the debt owed by you in the above referenced matter. This letter is for a demand for payment in full. Please contact this office to make arrangements for payment.

At this time no attorney with our law firm has personally reviewed the particular circumstances of your account.
....."


This is funny because the first and only time I talked to them on the phone, I was told "We bought this debt from AMEX and if you called them they no longer own the debt." and "If you don't make a $10K payment today, we have no choice but to sue..."

If you have been retained, this implies in my book that AMEX still owns the debt. What a shock, lied to by the guy on the phone.

[I_Suck]

Same guy from the same place left another phone message today. He must be on a regular weekly cycle. I didn't bother answering.